Dog Days meeting
should be short
By Will Collette
My bad. I missed the fact that Charlestown observes the unique and anachronistic Rhode Island holiday of "Victory Day," a.k.a. VJ-Day today.
So the Council meeting to put a public face on decisions that have already been made in private will take place on Tuesday, not today.
It used to be that Tom and I would put a lot of work into
covering the doings at the Charlestown Town Council. But after their election
triumph in 2014, the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA Alliance) holds every
elected office in town, including the Council, and they are likely to retain
their death grip on the town because they face hardly any opposition in the
November election.
Since most important decisions are pre-determined by the CCA
Party’s Steering Committee in their secret monthly meetings, these Council
sessions serve to simply provide a platform to announce those decisions. But on
occasion, as required by state law, the CCA Council must put some matters up
before the public and allow dissenting voices to be hears.
After reviewing this month’s agenda, the only two items
likely to provoke even a little sharp dialogue are the two listed under “New
Business.” The first is a proposal by Frank Glista to display a propeller from
a nearby World War II crash site near the memorial to the Navy flyers who were
trained at the Ninigret Auxiliary Air Field (NAAF) which is now Ninigret Park.
The prop certainly makes the point that not all of those training flights ended
well.
This Town Council has been generally hostile to anything
proposed by Frank, including proposals to enhance the town’s recognition of the
historic NAAF site. Expect at least some sharp elbows to be thrown over this
subject.
The second item under new business is the planned expansion
of Burlingame Park through the acquisition of the 42 acre “Dodson Property” by
DEM. Normally, nothing, and I mean nothing, gives the CCA a greater thrill that
to see more Charlestown real estate get turned into open space.
However, it looks like the Town is going to get a little
snippy with DEM because, if you look down the agenda, toward the end, there’s
an item in the Consent Agenda that calls for:
“CA” L. Authorization of the Town
Administrator to Send a Communication to All State Agencies and Regulatory
Boards, to Specifically Include the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Health, the Department of Environmental Management and the Water
Resources Board, and Any Other Pertinent Agencies, Requesting Notification of
Any State Projects Scheduled to Occur Within the Town of Charlestown
This is a reiteration of the “Slattery Doctrine” that
Charlestown asserts that no state agency should do anything in Charlestown
without checking with the CCA Town Council.
Essentially, any state agency that wants to do anything in Charlestown has to play "Simon Sez" with the Council, meaning with the CCA Party.
As much as the CCA Council loves open space, they were
outraged that the Water Resource Board would do business with the accursed
Glista family (see above) or for that matter do anything in Charlestown without
their CCA Council’s advice and consent.
This policy, pretty much exclusively focused on the
Water Resources Board, essentially lapsed after the residents in and around the CCA Party stronghold in Quonnie finally came to accept the fact their drinking water was imperiled by nitrates and other future
threats. At that point, the state Water Resource Board went from being a slimy illegal alien to becoming Quonnie’s potential savior.
It’s funny how self-interest works.
Anyway, it looks like the Slattery Doctrine has returned now
that DEM is back in the Charlestown Open Space business. And the great thing for the CCA is that they can't really be held accountable for yet another display of gross hypocrisy.
Here’s the official agenda:
Charlestown Town Council
Regular Meeting
8/9/2016 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
Town Hall 4540 South County
Trail Charlestown, RI 02813
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Downloads:
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CALL TO ORDER, Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance
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ROLL CALL
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Roll Call
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PUBLIC COMMENT for items not on the Agenda
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COUNCIL COMMENTS
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ADMINISTRATOR and COMMISSION REPORTS
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A.
Administrator Report
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B. Commission Reports
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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A.
Board and Commission Vacancies
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a.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
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A.
Public Hearing and Potential Action Regarding the Addition of a Warrant
Item on the November 2016 Ballot to Amend the Town Charter to Specify that
Any Proposed Warrant Item that Imposes a Tax Burden by Citizen's Petition
Shall Require Voter Approval on the November Ballot
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a.
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b.
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Motion to open the Public Hearing
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Motion to close the Public Hearing
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ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
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A.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding a Resolution Relative to the
Churchwoods Property, Approving and Authorizing the Assignment and
Assumption of Town Affordable Housing Obligations by Churchwoods, LLC from
Washington County Community Development Corporation and Mortgage
Subordination Agreement Changing Lien Priorities
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a.
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B.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding a Resolution in Support of the
Adoption of a State Law to Restrict the Distribution and Sale of Flavored
Nicotine and Tobacco Products, to Ban Tobacco Product Discounting, to Adopt
Other Proven Tobacco Retailer Point of Sale Initiatives that Require
Minimum Packaging, and to Limit Sales in Proximity to Schools and
Playgrounds
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a.
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b.
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c.
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C.
Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance #373 – Chapter 192 Taxation,
Article X – Additional Veterans Exemption; to be Advertised for Public
Hearing on September 12, 2016
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a.
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b.
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c.
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D.
Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance #374 – Chapter 192 Taxation,
Article XI – Additional Business Tangible Property Exemption; to be
Advertised for Public Hearing on September 12, 2016
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a.
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b.
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c.
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FISCAL MATTERS
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A.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Approval of Budget Transfers
in the Amount of $254,070.00, as Requested by Town Treasurer Patricia M.
Anderson
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a.
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b.
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NEW BUSINESS
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A.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding a WWII Prop Exhibit in Ninigret
Park by Air Memorial
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b.
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c.
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d.
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e.
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B.
Discussion and Potential Action Regarding a Recommendation to the RIDEM
Regarding the State’s Acquisition of an Approximate 42 Acre Portion of
Assessor’s Map 16, Lot 29 - 16 Old Indian Trail in Charlestown (A.K.A – the
Dobson Property) to be Incorporated Within the Burlingame Management Area
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a.
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b.
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CONSENT AGENDA
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Motion to accept, approve and place on file the
following as the consent agenda: “CA” A - “CA” M
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"CA" A. Town Council Minutes:
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a.
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a.
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b.
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"CA" B. Reports:
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a.
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“CA”
C. Approval of the Following Events to Occur Within the Town of Charlestown
Per RIGL §31-12-12(A):
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a.
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b.
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c.
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"CA"
D. Acceptance of the Resignation of Jennifer Q. Hodshon from the Bicycle
Pathway Ad Hoc Committee with Regret
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a.
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"CA"
E. Approval of the Extension of the September 14, 2015 Authorization to Bradford
Associates to Include the Hourly Rates to Perform Construction Monitoring
Services for the Multi-Purpose Trail: Project Landscape Architect - $90.00
and Staff Landscape Architect - $65.00; and Authorization of the Town
Administrator and Town Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions,
and Execute and Deliver Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as
May be Necessary to Carry into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Action Relative
Thereto
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a.
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b.
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"CA"
F. Award of Heating Fuel and Maintenance Services Bid to Ginger's Service
Station for an Amount Not to Exceed "Tank Car" Price Mark-Up of
0.05 Cents/Gallon and "Tank Car" Price Mark-Up Including Taxes of
0.391 Cents/Gallon, as Budgeted in Line Item 01.630.6195 and for Heating
System Maintenance and Repair, Hourly Regular Work-Day Cost $85.00/Hour and
Night Weekend and Holiday Cost $100.00/Hour as Budgeted in Line Item
01.630.6040, and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town
Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver
Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry
into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto
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a.
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b.
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c.
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"CA"
G. Award of the Conceptual Design(S) for an Integrated Artistic Entry
Sign/Monument and Entrance of Ninigret Park to Bradford and Associates for
an Amount Not to Exceed $8,200.00, to be Taken from Recreation Bond Account
76.000.5100.000 and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town
Treasurer, Each to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver
Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry
into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto
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a.
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b.
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c.
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d.
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e.
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"CA"
H. Approve and Reconfirm Town Council Vote of October 14, 2014 for the Sole
Source Procurement of Clivus Multrum Composting Toilet Units from Clivus
New England and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town Treasurer,
Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver Such
Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry into
Effect the Foregoing, or Any Action Relative Thereto
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a.
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"CA"
I. Award of the Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seal Bid to All States Asphalt,
Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $129,563.60, as Budgeted in Line Item
01.990.9961.000, and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town
Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver
Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry
into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto
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b.
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c.
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"CA"
J. Award of the Heavy-Duty Dump Truck Bid to Coastal International for an
Amount Not to Exceed $134,443.00, as Budgeted in Line Item 01.990.9964.000,
and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town Treasurer, Each, to
Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver Such Certificates,
Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry into Effect the
Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto
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a.
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b.
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c.
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"CA"
K. Approval of the Request from the Tax Assessor for Abatements in the
Amount of $3675.59
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a.
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b.
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“CA”
L. Authorization of the Town Administrator to Send a Communication to All
State Agencies and Regulatory Boards, to Specifically Include the
Department of Transportation, the Department of Health, the Department of
Environmental Management and the Water Resources Board, and Any Other
Pertinent Agencies, Requesting Notification of Any State Projects Scheduled
to Occur Within the Town of Charlestown
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“CA”
M. Authorization of the Town Administrator to Prepare an Advisory Detailing
How the Wastewater Management Commission Can Work on Potable Water Issues,
with a Report Back to the Council at the September Meeting
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ADJOURNMENT
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“CA” L. Authorization of the Town
Administrator to Send a Communication to All State Agencies and Regulatory
Boards, to Specifically Include the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Health, the Department of Environmental Management and the Water
Resources Board, and Any Other Pertinent Agencies, Requesting Notification of
Any State Projects Scheduled to Occur Within the Town of Charlestown